West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-12-15

ana reckless or tho welfare OF tho entifo
country
Under our present laws morn than 400 ar
uclos arc subject to duty. Many OF these DO
nov no, IN any way conpeto with our own MANN
tactures, and many are hardly worth atten-
ton as subjects OF revenue. A considerabIe
reduction can bc made in the aggregate. by
adding them TO the free list The taxntion
OF Injuries presents no features OF hardship;
but tho necessities OF life ua,ed and consumed
10y all the people, the duty upon which adds
TO the cost OF living In every home, should bo
greatly choapened
The radical reduction Of the duties impo.od
upon raw material used in manufactures or
It's free importation, is ofcourae au Important
factor in any effort 10 rSduce the price OF thcse
nocessarics; IL would not only relieve them
from the Increased cost CAUSED by the tariff on
such material, but the manufactured product
being thus cheapenod that part OF tho tariff
now laid upon such product as a compenaa-
ton 10 our manufactures for the present prics
otraw material, could DO accordingly modified
such reduction, or free importation, would
serve beside To largely reduce the revenue. 10
" not apparent how such change can have
any injurious effect upon our manufacturers
On the contrary, IL would appear 10 give
Them botter chance I'm foreign markets with
the manufacturers OF other countries, who
cheaper their wares by free material Thus
our people might have the opportunity OF en-
tending their sales beyond tho limits OF honne
consumptiou-eaving them from the do
prcSSsion, interruption In business, and Los
caused 10y gluttcd domestic market and nf-
tordlng their employees more certain and
steady labor, with its rvsultIng quiet and oon-
tentment
The question thus impcratively prevented
Tor solution should be approached in splrit
higher than partisonship and considered IN
the light of that regard for patriotic duty
which should characterize the action OF those
intrustcd with tho veal OF a conildinR peonla
But the obligation 10 declared party policy
aud principle IL not wanting To urgo prompb
and effective action Both OF the great political
parties now represented in the Government
have, by repeated and authoritative declare
ti0us condemned the condition OF our laws
which permit tho collection from the people
OF unnecessary revenue, and have in tho
most solemn manner promised its correction;
and neither as citizens nor partisans are our
countrYmen in n mood To oondone the delib.
crate violation OF These pledgea
Our progress toward a wise conclusion will
not lao improved by dwelling upon the theo-
ties Of protection and free trado. This saVosS
loo much Of bandylng epitheis. IL Is n con-
dition which confronts us-not n theory
Relief from this condition may. involve
sngnU reduction or the advantages
which wo award our home productions.
but tho entire withdrawal n mEy,
advantages should not be contemplated Tho
question of free trade Is absolutely irrelovantS
Nnd the persistent claim made i'm certain quar-
ters that all efforts 10 relieve the people from
OF 80 called free traders, is mischievous and
lar removed from any consideration for us
public good.
Tho simple and plain duty which we owe the
people Is To reduce taxation 20 the necessary
expenses OF an economical operation OF tho
Government, aud 10 restore to the business Of
tho country the money which we hold I'm tlD
treasury through the porveTBion OF govern.
mental powers. These things can and should
be done with safety 10 all our industries, with
a ..
tive labor which our workingmen need, and
with benefit TO them and all our people, by
cheapening their means of subsistence and
increasing the measure OF thoir comforts.
The Constitution provides that tho Pred
dent shall, from time 30 time, give TO tho
Congress information OF the state OF the
Union" IL has been tho custom Of the Ex-
ccutive, In compliance with this provision, ~
annually exhibit 10 the Congress, at do
opening Of It's session. tho general con
dition Of the country, and 90 detail, with
some particularly, tho operations OF the
different executive departments IL would
hc especially agreeable to follow this courno
at the present time, and 10 oail atten-
ton 20 the valuable accomplishments OF
these departments during the last fiscal
year. But am so much Impressed
with the paramount Importance OF tho
subject 10 which this communioa-
tion has thus far been devoted, that I shall
forego the addition OF any other topic, and
only urge upon your immediate cOnsideaS~.
tom the "stato OF the Union" as shown In tho
present condition OF our treasury and our
general fiscal situation, upon which overy
element OF our safety and prosperity de-
pends.
The reports Of the heads OF departments,
which will be submitted. contains full and OK
plicit information touching the transaction OF
tho business entrusted to them, and such
recommendations relating 10 legislation in the
public interest as they deem advisable. ash
for these reports and Recommendation the do
libcTnte examination and action OF the legisla.
tive branch Of the Government
TEore are other subjects not embracod in
tho departmental reports demanding Iezislat-
fvo consideration and which should be glad
20 submit. Some Of them, however, hnra
Seen earnestly presented In previous messagss.
and as 10 them, bog leave 10 repeat prior
recommendation.
As the law makes no provision for any re-
port from tho Department OF State, brief
history OF the transactions OF that Important
department. together with other rnattern
which II may hereafter be deemed essential
10 commend 30 the attention Of the Congress,
may furnish tho occasion for future conl-
municatiOn. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Washington, Dec. @, 1887.